Definitely your invitation (visa support doc) must cover the duration of your stay, and more likely if you book hotels directly you'll get 2 docs, one from each. If you book it with any online booking system like booking.com and etc. you'll get one confirmation for 2 bookings.

> If you book it with any online booking system like booking.com and etc. you'll get one confirmation for 2 bookings.

Hmm, has anybody succesfully got a Russian visa with a booking system confirmation for an invitation? I thought the embassies want more than that.

Russian consulated in "western" countries typically want an invitation from a registered travel agency AND a document that confirms a hotel booking. Just order these two documents (which can be quite cheap) and then you are in no way bound by any hotel bookings and can easily change your plans as you travel. Just remember to register at some point during your stay. AND DON'T LOSE THE FAMOUS MIGRATION CARD THAT LOOKS LIKE A STORE RECEIPT!! Many agencies that issue invitations will also register you for around $50-60. And then you are free to be on your own. My advice of course applies to those who, like me, get claustophobic when bound by plans and schedules.

Pasha

I might suggest going thru a Visa agency that can handle "all" your invitations. I used GoToRussia out of Sab Francisco (they have offices around the country), and they handled everything,- and I too was going to St. Petersburg for several days (in the middle of my trip). There is nothing "magic" that I have seen about having to do this thru hotels, and even though often "free", to me is a hassle if one is planning a multi-city trip...

Good luck...you will have a great time!

You should know that not every hotel booking is accepted at the embassy. There is a list of hotels at the embassy whose bokings they will accept. Having a booking from a hotel from that list (directly from a hotel only, not a booking system) will be enough and then you do not need an invitation from an agency. It may seem at times that it might be more convenient to get just an invitation from an agency for getting a visa and then not to bother with hotels but another part to it. If you arrived in Russia with a visa issued based on an agency's envitation, this agency will have to register you and file your registration documents in their name which means you will have to go visit them for that and I think you have to do it on a working day. Hotels do it automatically with no hassle to you.

Hi Rekon

I have successfully used ; -- www.waytorussia.net

I went to St P, Veliky Novgorod and Moscow.

These guys do it with a registered tourist partner so it is official.

One stop shop. no need for multiple invitations. no need for pre-paid accommodation. It works. I've done it.

I sent this stuff with passport , application for visa, courier tracked to the Russian Embassy in Wellington and I had the visa in a week.

They asked detail of flights in and out. That was all. I did this. VISA obtained

I had done it with invitations from hotels on three previous occassions, but this service is much easier and more affordable.Overnight train from Novgorod, south of St P $43 NZ bought locally whereas $250 if purchased in NZ and couriered and everyone clips the ticket. Applying the standard way this would need to have been pre-paid.

You will have your inviation documents within 24 hours. You can then shop for your accommodation online and stay where you like according to your budget.

In my case, the hotels where I stayed registered my visa - no charge even though none of them issued the invitation documents.

Hope this helps

DCtheKiwi

It is easier to get one invitation for the whole duration of your trip to Russia, this way you won't be tied to a certain hotel if for some reason you decide to stay elsewhere. Some Russian Consulates won't even accept visa applications from private citizens, so you would need to do your visa via a travel agency and many issue a free visa support if you order full visa service from them. I would recommend Go To Russia, they do both fast and inexpensive. Hotels are required to register your visa but if you end up staying somewhere else Go To Russia has an office in Moscow, so they can do it for you.

I think it makes sense to order an invitation from a company specializing in visas. Less stress and they will even help getting a visa itself. I know russia-visa.com does it.